In an interview with Ticket Sarasota, former Allman Brothers guitarist Dickey Betts commented on the band’s retirement as well as his memories of Duane Allman. Betts, currently touring with his band Great Southern, said that the band’s retirement “makes it easier on my band because half their show is **** I wrote, which I do in my show now.”Betts also went on to say, “I don’t have to do Gregg Allman songs. It will be easier as far as people understanding. I kind of question whether to say this or not, but it’s almost like the Allman Brothers turned into an Allman Brothers tribute band.” The guitarist also fondly recalled his time with Duane Allman, saying, “Duane and I used to have a little wine and we’d sit and talk about how screwed up it is that every good band you get together, the guitar players start getting jealous of each other and start trying to hotdog out each other and ruin the whole thing. Duane and I had an understanding, like an old soul kind of understanding, of let’s play together. And then I wrote ‘Elizabeth Reed,’ and instead of Duane being jealous of it, he said, ‘That is the greatest thing, man.’”

Frankly, I have no problem with Dickey expressing himself this way. It's not like he wrote a book (or actually wrote a book (cough-cough)) or scheduled weekly interviews over the past 15 years to continuously take digs at his former bandmates. But go ahead and jump on the "let's kick Dickey while he's down" bandwagon if you want to.

____________________Music is love, and love is music, if you know what I mean.
People who believe in music are the happiest people I've ever seen.

Bill Ector, Randy Stephens, Dan Hills and a guy named BobO who I never met - Forever in my heart!

If it hadn't been for Dickey's creative control/micromanagement - whatever you want to call it, the band would have very likely ceased to exist after Berry's death. Like it or not, Brothers and Sisters is the bands crowning achievement commercially. That song that the rest of the band does their best to distance themselves from has brought them more money than any other venture by the band - period. If you don't think that Dickey was more in the drivers seat than any other band member - go talk to Johnny Sandlin (who was given headaches galore by Dickey).

I will not say another word on all this. But for the record - which parts of Dickey's recent statement is false? You might not like the way that he said it - but deny that it's true!

If this is an argument or a peeing contest - you win.

____________________Music is love, and love is music, if you know what I mean.
People who believe in music are the happiest people I've ever seen.

Bill Ector, Randy Stephens, Dan Hills and a guy named BobO who I never met - Forever in my heart!

dickey was an incredible talent and made huge contributions to the band, no doubt.

just interesting to see that the narcissism that got him tossed from the band years ago is alive and well.

same **** and same flies.

I have endless respect for Greg allowing the band to embrace and showcase talents well beyond him. A true acknowledgement of humility that the music is not owned by anyone but rather a continuum of tradition. He trained another generation to keep those traditions alive and that is more valuable than anything.The band owes more to muddy and elmore james than dickey betts.

"I have endless respect for Greg allowing the band to embrace and showcase talents well beyond him."
_____________________________________

Maybe some of that is driven by the fact that he has realized for years that the GAB isn't as big a payday as the ABB.

____________________Disclaimer:

The thoughts in this post are merely or nearly the thoughts or lack there of, of the author. He fully accepts or denies responsibility for those thoughts or lack there of. He sincerely hopes that you take them seriously or don't.

quote:That song that the rest of the band does their best to distance themselves from has brought them more money than any other venture by the band - period.

you mean besides Moogis?

Youz guyz are killing me!

____________________Well 30 years of heart and soul,lord we took it further than rock and roll.
We stood together thru thick and thin,yeah we made the best of it all back then.
Then I guess time took it's toll,cut me deep,cut me cold.
Brother against brother....

quote:If it hadn't been for Dickey's creative control/micromanagement - whatever you want to call it, the band would have very likely ceased to exist after Berry's death. Like it or not, Brothers and Sisters is the bands crowning achievement commercially. That song that the rest of the band does their best to distance themselves from has brought them more money than any other venture by the band - period. If you don't think that Dickey was more in the drivers seat than any other band member - go talk to Johnny Sandlin (who was given headaches galore by Dickey).

I will not say another word on all this. But for the record - which parts of Dickey's recent statement is false? You might not like the way that he said it - but deny that it's true!

If this is an argument or a peeing contest - you win.

I would say the part about the band being "an allman bros. tribute band" is false. If you believe that to be true than it would seem like a waste to have all those stars after your name for a tribute band. After Levell left the band - this lineup with Haynes & Trucks has been better than any lineup with Dickey in my opinion, including Dickey & Haynes and Dickey at Trucks. Dickey's playing for more than a decade has been both sloppy and predictable and the jams with Trucks and Haynes go to much further places than Dickey's. Dickey is simply an angry narcissist.

quote:If it hadn't been for Dickey's creative control/micromanagement - whatever you want to call it, the band would have very likely ceased to exist after Berry's death. Like it or not, Brothers and Sisters is the bands crowning achievement commercially. That song that the rest of the band does their best to distance themselves from has brought them more money than any other venture by the band - period. If you don't think that Dickey was more in the drivers seat than any other band member - go talk to Johnny Sandlin (who was given headaches galore by Dickey).

I will not say another word on all this. But for the record - which parts of Dickey's recent statement is false? You might not like the way that he said it - but deny that it's true!

If this is an argument or a peeing contest - you win.

I would say the part about the band being "an allman bros. tribute band" is false. If you believe that to be true than it would seem like a waste to have all those stars after your name for a tribute band. After Levell left the band - this lineup with Haynes & Trucks has been better than any lineup with Dickey in my opinion, including Dickey & Haynes and Dickey at Trucks. Dickey's playing for more than a decade has been both sloppy and predictable and the jams with Trucks and Haynes go to much further places than Dickey's. Dickey is simply an angry narcissist.

I have always taken a moderates view of the feud. Hence 1 - You are right and 2 - He is right. Dickey kept the band together after Duane's death by embracing those very same negative personality traits. He also wrote my favorite Jazz/Fusion song (IMOER) of all time. The band also survived a decade or so ago by getting rid of him before it rotted with him at the helm. ALL THESE THINGS ARE TRUE

quote:If it hadn't been for Dickey's creative control/micromanagement - whatever you want to call it, the band would have very likely ceased to exist after Berry's death. Like it or not, Brothers and Sisters is the bands crowning achievement commercially. That song that the rest of the band does their best to distance themselves from has brought them more money than any other venture by the band - period. If you don't think that Dickey was more in the drivers seat than any other band member - go talk to Johnny Sandlin (who was given headaches galore by Dickey).

I will not say another word on all this. But for the record - which parts of Dickey's recent statement is false? You might not like the way that he said it - but deny that it's true!

If this is an argument or a peeing contest - you win.

I would say the part about the band being "an allman bros. tribute band" is false. If you believe that to be true than it would seem like a waste to have all those stars after your name for a tribute band. After Levell left the band - this lineup with Haynes & Trucks has been better than any lineup with Dickey in my opinion, including Dickey & Haynes and Dickey at Trucks. Dickey's playing for more than a decade has been both sloppy and predictable and the jams with Trucks and Haynes go to much further places than Dickey's. Dickey is simply an angry narcissist.

Very true. I liked the ABB with DB when I saw them at first in the late 90s but I accepted that he was older and his playing was not like it was going to be in the 70s; but decades of a lot of anger, alcohol, cocaine, amphetamine, and heroin will do that to someone. The ABB did the right thing by kicking DB out, and having Haynes replace him.

Some of my friends who are major ABB fans as well will say how Haynes is just a rehash blues player, that his playing is too calculated/boring after awhile, or other things; but I'm glad mostly all of the ABB shows I saw were with him and Derek. I also am glad I got to see them both with Jimmy Herring, and Jack Pearson. When I was a kid I was a huge Bob Weir/GD fan, so I'm also happy I saw Ratdog open up a few times, and Weir guest on some songs too.

After 14 years of Gregg and the little drummer boy bashing Dickey and Dickey not saying one negative word at all. Now he calls them a n cover band( which I agree with) Some of you act like how dare you criticize the ABB. Man some of you can sure dish it out but you can't take it when you are on the receiving end. Thin skinned in my book.

quote:After 14 years of Gregg and the little drummer boy bashing Dickey and Dickey not saying one negative word at all. Now he calls them a n cover band( which I agree with) Some of you act like how dare you criticize the ABB. Man some of you can sure dish it out but you can't take it when you are on the receiving end. Thin skinned in my book.

Who says people cant take it, let Dickey say what he wants, I don't care. I am just giving my opinion on how the music sounds, not the personalities. What have Derek or Warren ever done to get thrown under the bus as part of a tribute band. Betts recently also said Warren & Derek were basically just a copy of Duane & Dickey. That's real nice. You think they have no creativity in their craft? Who do you think Clapton would rather play with, Derek or Dickey? Like I said, Dickey's playing has been sloppy for a good 15 years, you can predict about every note he is going to play. The only creative thing he is done in the last 15 years is use someone else's riff, Franklin Towers, to lead into his own tune. And if like Dickey says, all the ABB do is play half of his songs anyway, that would mean that they would be playing Blue Skies, IMOER and Jessica (twice) in the first and second set of every show. He's just a mean old guy. Brothers & Sisters would have been half the album it was if not for Chuck Levell. Everything else after that album by a Dickey lead band was down hill into a country let direction for a hard blues/jazz influenced band.

quote:After 14 years of Gregg and the little drummer boy bashing Dickey and Dickey not saying one negative word at all. Now he calls them a n cover band( which I agree with) Some of you act like how dare you criticize the ABB. Man some of you can sure dish it out but you can't take it when you are on the receiving end. Thin skinned in my book.

quote:After 14 years of Gregg and the little drummer boy bashing Dickey and Dickey not saying one negative word at all. Now he calls them a n cover band( which I agree with) Some of you act like how dare you criticize the ABB. Man some of you can sure dish it out but you can't take it when you are on the receiving end. Thin skinned in my book.

quote:After 14 years of Gregg and the little drummer boy bashing Dickey and Dickey not saying one negative word at all. Now he calls them a n cover band( which I agree with) Some of you act like how dare you criticize the ABB. Man some of you can sure dish it out but you can't take it when you are on the receiving end. Thin skinned in my book.

quote:After 14 years of Gregg and the little drummer boy bashing Dickey and Dickey not saying one negative word at all. Now he calls them a n cover band( which I agree with) Some of you act like how dare you criticize the ABB. Man some of you can sure dish it out but you can't take it when you are on the receiving end. Thin skinned in my book.

People here have been critical of the ABB. Such as them getting rid of Moogis/live show streaming, high ticket prices, songs that get played too often, canceled Beacon shows/Beacon shows without Gregg, bands like ratdog opening, and how other bands like phish/gov't mule/DTB/TTB/Jaimoe's Jasssz Band and even Devon Allman's honeytribe allow people to trade audience recorded shows via bit torrent but the ABB doesn't.

If you've read older interviews from DB he's basically called the ABB a "tribute band/cover band"; but you can't expect him to be happy at all about being kicked out of the ABB.

Went and and saw typical Dickey last night....and he was being his typical Dickey self.

Giving his time & talent so some kids who might not otherwise eat a good meal on Thanksgiving and Christmas, and have a couple toys to play with like other kids who might not be stuck in such a desperate situation.

Tapping his heart as he told everyone who came how much he appreciated all who where there...for taking the time, and spending their hard earned cash, for such a great cause.

Going on a drunken political ramble by saying..."a lot of people died so you could vote, so go out and vote. I don't care WHO you vote for...just vote"

Taking his time, even though he collected no money himself for the show he just did, to talk and sign for fans waiting to see him after the free gig.

Gregg does that stuff twice on lots of Sunday's....

Then...to have to listen to....the tone of that guitar.
It all just sucked....

____________________Well 30 years of heart and soul,lord we took it further than rock and roll.
We stood together thru thick and thin,yeah we made the best of it all back then.
Then I guess time took it's toll,cut me deep,cut me cold.
Brother against brother....

quote:I would say the part about the band being "an allman bros. tribute band" is false.

Yes that is absolutely false. He knew he was wrong to say it too. None of the ABB have commented on DB & GS being a tribute band even though they are structured just tad (like completely) like the ABB. They don't schedule interviews to bash DB. They agree to do interviews and deal with the obvious questions. Maybe not so well on occasion but it sure could have been worse.

You know it was DB that let them down, not the other way around. A little more re-hab and a lot less lawyering would have gone a long way. His ego said "They can't make it without me". Turns out they did and they learned it was better and more enjoyable without him. But the fact remains he chose not to come back.

Edit:

Re last nights show, I hope it was great! No one said he was not generous.

[Edited on 11/2/2014 by KCJimmy]

____________________"With the help of God and true friends I've come to realize,
I still have two strong legs and even wings to fly"

The ALLMAN BROTHERS BAND name, The ALLMAN BROTHERS name, likenesses, logos, mushroom design and peach truck are all registered trademarks of THE ABB MERCHANDISING CO., INC. whose rights are specifically reserved. Any artwork, visual, or audio representations used on this web site CONTAINING ANY REGISTERED TRADEMARKS are under license from The ABB MERCHANDISING CO., INC. A REVOCABLE, GRATIS LICENSE IS GRANTED TO ALL REGISTERED PEACH CORP MEMBERS FOR The DOWNLOADING OF ONE COPY FOR PERSONAL USE ONLY. ANY DISTRIBUTION OR REPRODUCTION OF THE TRADEMARKS CONTAINED HEREIN ARE PROHIBITED AND ARE SPECIFICALLY RESERVED BY THE ABB MERCHANDISING CO.,INC.